Rotary type shiftable fastener



April 20, 1,948. vp, l, JONES 2,439,975

ROTARY TYPE SHIFTABLE FASTENER Original Filed Sept. 14, 41942 l, @11.1111 'lill'. l..

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 ROTARY TYPE sHm'rABLE Walter I. Jones,

Behnont, Mass.,

FASTENER assigner to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge,

Mass., a corporation of Continuation of Aapplicati T September 14, 1942.

17, 1944, Serial No. 52

on serial No.v his application'March 6,932

Massachusetts 31 claims. (ci. 244221) The present invention relates to improvements 'n fastener-secured installations of the type employing a laterally shiftable socket member adapted to cooperate with a rotary stud prothe support, socket and stud, such as is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 458,196, filed September 14, 1942, now abandoned. The present invention has for its principal aims and objects the provision of improved attaching means for the socket member of the fastening.

Other aims and objects of the invention will embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a 'fastener-secured installation according to one embodiment thereof as viewed from the female fastener or socket side thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof as taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a modified form of attaching mem? ber; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a socket member attached by a modified form of attaching member and with the stud and attaching plate omitted.

Fasteners of the type disclosed herein are extensively used in the construction of aircraft to securely attach one sheet, as for example a cowling sheet, to an underlying support. The supas taken on the the fastener must be bodily shiftable relative to its vattached supporting part. Also frequently it is diicult to accurately pre-locate all fastenerreceiving apertures, and in assembling of the parts of the fastener it is `desirable that at least 'one of theifastener parts be shiftable so as to avoid the necessity. of bending or distorting one or both of the parts. Furthermore, there is considerable vibration present in aircraft when in ight, and it is sometimes desirable to provide a substantially floatable mounting for one of the fastener parts, so that the fastener assembly when in locked position will have a limited rotation as a whole, without rotating the stud relative to the socket in unlocking position.

`The female fastener `or socket member 6 may be of any of the approved types formed of sheet metal having bearing sections 'I adapted to bear slidably upon asupporting surface and an intermediate outwardly spaced portion apertured as at 8 to receive the stud 3 and radial arms 4 thereof. The central portion of the member 6 on opposite sidesof the aperture 8 is preferably dished "outwardly to provide a rigid cam and follower means or 'track 9, a groove means or seat I0 and a stop II for cooperative engagement withthe'radial armsd of the stud 3 upon turning movement of the latter. The socket member 6 is provided with upwardly extending portions I 2 beyond the bearing section 1, and is so shaped as to have a pin and Vslot connecting with the attaching members. As illustrated herein, the portion I2 is formed with an elongated slot or recess I3 adapted to receive a cooperating pin or tongue, hereinafter described, on the attaching' member.

According'to the invention, and particularly the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the socket member 6 may be attached to the supportV I by means of retainer means, such as an attaching plate or base I5 apertured as at I6, so as to surround the support aperture 2, and providing a supporting surface or wear surface I'I for slidably engaging the bearing sections of the socket 6. This plate or base I5 may, if desired, be fxedly attached to the support by suitable means, as for example rivets I 8.

' The attaching plate is preferably formed with an integral finger or tongue I 9 extending radially beyond'thefsup'porting or wear surface I 'l and curved upwardly'and inwardly so that its terminal endis positioned in the slot or recess I 3.of the socket'member. `Preferably the tongue IS is formed o f sheet metal and maybe suitably formed to add .rigidity and stiffness to the part.

The socket member 6 is thus loosely or floatingly attached to the attaching plate in such a manner that bearing surfaces 1 are free to slide on the wear surfaces l1 of the attaching member laterally, longitudinally and through a limited arcuate movement concentric with the axis of the stud.

The attaching member need not be of onepece construction nor riveted to the support as shown in Fig. 1, and it may bemade of. spring metal (such as carbon steel) or not, as desired. There may be provided a separate .att-aching: plate a for each bearing section 11 .ofthexsocketas disclosed in Fig. 5, and these may be formed with an inturned hook 2| on the opposite..sideof..the wear surface ll and designed towbe hookedover the edge of the support aperture 2 andheld in place on the support I by tensional engagement with the plate 15a at hooks 2l. If desiredan up-struck tongue or detent 22 may be formed on the hook 2| to more securely grip the metal support and hold the attaching. member vin place. This has the advantage thatit avoids thenecessity of riveting the .attaching plate to thereupport.

The presentV .application 'is' a continuation of my copending application SerialiNo. 458,195, filed September 14, 194:2,.now abandoned.

Although I have illustrated .anddescribed `preferred embodiments of my invention, vrIdonot wish to be limited thereby because thescopeof my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fastener `for use in securing together an apertured support and apart to be .attached thereto which isprovidedwth arotatablymounted stud, Vsaid fastener comprising .a `stud-engaging fastener member forcooperative engagement with a rotatable stud, retainer :means adapted to be mounted on the-support and supporting said stud-engaging fastener member, means .on said retainer overlying a `portionqof Vsaid fastener member whereby lateral shifting of said studengaging fastener member ina plurality of directions relative to the Iapertureof said vsuplxort may be effected, andsupport-cngaging means on said retainer disposed intermediate the .means which overlie portions of `the' fastener member.

2. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured support and a part to -be attached thereto which is provided'witha rotatably mounted stud, said fastener comprising a stud-engaging fastener member provided with spaced bearing portions and' retainer means adapted to be mounted on the support and provided with a bearing surface for slidably engaging said bearing portions of said fastener member, .said retainer being formed with means overlying :and spaced from said bearing portions and .integral support-engag-ingl means for attaching said retainer to a support.

3. In a fastener for-cowlingl or thelike, a. fastener element comprising a metal member'having a central aperture and rigid cam means.. adjacent the aperture adapted to receive and interlock with a cooperating .rotary fastener element upon turning movement of the latterr said member having bearing sections beyond. said aperture adapted to bear slidably on a. supporting structure in a planey `spaced from the saidV cam means, and means onsaid supporting structure confined. within the marginal side edgesof said metal member and overlying said bearing sections for loosely attaching said member to saidsupporting struc ture, said member being bodily shiftable laterally in at least two directions relative to said supporting structure.

4. In a fastener for cowling or the like, a supporting structure adapted to be attached to an apertured suppor a fastener element comprising an elongated vmetal strip having a central aperture and rigid cam means adjacent the aperture adapted to receive and interlock with a cooperating rotary fastener element upon turning movement of the'latter, said strip having terminal end bearing sections beyond said aperture Yadapted-tobear. slidably on the supporting structirre'inaplanespaced from the said cam means, 5 means. on said supporting structure overlying said end bearing sections for loosely attaching said .strip to said supporting structure and supportengaging means on said supporting structure intermediate said last named means for attaching said structure to a support, said strip being bodily shiftable laterally in at least two directions laterally relative to said supporting structure.

5. In a fastenerfor Cowling 'or the like, a fastener element comprising a metal strip having a central aperture and rigid-,cam means adjacent the aperture 4adapted to receive and interlock with a cooperating rotary fastener element upon turning movement ofthe latter, said strip having .bearing sections beyond saidaperture adapted to bear slidably on a-supporting structure in a plane spaced fromvthe said cam means, said strip being formed with a transversely elongated recess beyond said bearng section, 'and a relatively narrow retaining member overlying Vthe end'portions of said strip andfextending into said recess for shiftably attaching said strip to said supporting structure.`

6. A fastener for Cowling or the lik-ecomprising a plurality Aof Ysupporting members adapted to be mounted on one face ofan. apertured support, said members being formed with a hook-shaped portion extending through the aperture of the support and engaging .the opposite face of the support, a fastenermember adapted to Vreceive and interlock with a cooperating rotary fastener element upon turning `movement thereof, said fastener member having bearing sections slidably bearing upon said supporting member, and means on said supporting members overlying said bearing sections and having a tongue and slot connectd therewith.

F7. In a fastener installation `of the character described incombination with an apertured support and a part'to be attached thereto which is provided with. a rotatably mounted stud having alateral extension thereon; an apertured female fastener member yhaving'spaced bearing sections and` an intermediate outwardly spaced apertured 'seat for cooperative engagement with said rotatable stud, an attaching plate mounted-on said support and providing-a supporting wear surface for said bearing sections and means connecting the attaching plate to the portion of the female fastener .member beyond a .bearing section thereof having. a. tongue and slot connection.

8. A fastener for use Iin securing together an apertured support andl a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud having a lateral extension thereon; said fastener Vcomprising. .an apertured female fastener member having spaced bearing sections and an intermediate outwardlyspaced apertured seat for cooperative engagement withv the rotatable stud. an attaching plate adapted to be mountedon 'to the support and provi-ding a supporting wear surface for said bearing sections, and pin and slot porting surface may be effected.

9. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured support and a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud having a lateral extension thereon; saidA fastener comprising an apertured female fastener socket having spaced bearing sections and an intermediate outwardly spaced apertured seat for cooperative engagement with the rotatable stud, an attaching plate adapted to be mounted on to be mounted on -an apertured support and connected with a rotatable stud mounted in a part to be attached to the support, comprising a studengaging fastener member for cooperative engagement with the rotatable stud, a' .plurality of attaching plates mounted on the support and each providing a separate supporting wear surface supporting a portion of said stud-engaging fastener member and means connecting the attaching plates to the stud-engaging fastener member whereby lateral shifting thereof on the supporting surface may be effected. i

12. A fastener for cowling and the like adapted. to be mounted on an apertured support and connected with a rotatable stud mounted in a part to lbe attached to the support, comprising a studengaging fastener member having spaced bearviding a separate supporting wear surface for the said bearing surfaces, and each attaching Y plate having a retaining portion engaging a portion of the stud-engaging fastener member in a manner whereby lateral shifting of -said member on the supporting surface may be effected.

13. A socket fastener member for attach-ment to an apertured support comprising a stud-receiving socket having an elongated base formed saidv plate extending parallel to a longitudinal axis through said terminal end portions overlying said bearing portions, said socket member being bodily shiftable upon said attaching member.

14. A fastening device for detachably securing work surfaces together, comprising a base plate for association with the surface of one work part and adapted to accommodate a fastening stud, a resilient stud-engaging plate superimposing the base plate, means along separated margins of `said stud-engaging plate for positioning the studengaging portions thereof in spaced relation to said -base plate, said base and stud-engaging plate being adapted for telescopic association with said fastening stud, said stud-engaging plate being relatively rotatable withrespect to a companion stud and having a stud-engaging surface for causing the stud-engaging plate to be stressed laterally toward the base plate when lthe stud and stud-engaging plate are relatively rotated in a given direction to thereby clamp said work surfaces together, the base plate presenting fastening tabs and the resilient stud-engaging plate bridging the base plate between said tabs.

15. A fastening device for detachably securing work surfaces together, comprising a base plate for association with the surface of one work part adapted to accommodate a, fastening stud, a resilient stud-engaging plate superimposing the base plate, means along separated margins of said stud-engaging plate for positioning the stud-engaging portions thereof in spaced relation to said base plate, lsaid base and stud-em ga'ging plates being adapted for telescopic association witha fastening stud, said stud-engag ing plate being relatively rotatable with respect to a comp-anion stud and having a stud-engaging surface for causing the stud-engaging plate to be stressed lateral-ly toward the base plate when a stud and stud-engaging plate are relatively rotated in a given direction to thereby clamp said work surfaces together.

16. A fastening device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the stud-engaging plate includes an annularly continuous body portion.

17. A fastening device as set forth in claim l5 wherein the base continuous body portion.

18. A fastening device lfor detachably securing work'surfaces' together, comprising a base plate for association with the surface of one work part and adapted to accommodate a fastening stud equipped with a lateral lug carried by another work part, a resilient stud-engaging plate superimposing the base plate, means along separ'ated margins of said stud-engaging plate for positioning the stud-engaging portions thereof in spaced relation to said base plate, said base and stud-engaging plates being adapted for telescopic association and relative rotation with respect to a stud, and a section on said stud-engaging plate cooperating with a lateral lug of a stud to present cam and follower means for causing the stud-engaging plate to be stressed laterally toward the base plate when a stud and studengaging plate are relatively rotated in a given direction to thereby clamp said work surfaces together.

19. A fastening device for detachably securing work surfaces together, comprising a base plate adapted to be secured to the surface of one work part and adapted to accommodate a rotary fastening stud equipped with a lateral lug carried by anotherwork part, said stud being equipped with a lateral lug,

plate includes an annularly a resilient stud-engaging plate superimposing the base'plate, meansV along separatedV margins of. said. stud-engaging. plate for positioning the stud-engaging portions thereof` inspaced relation to` said base plate, said base and studaeng-aging plates being adapted for tele.- scopic associationA withv a fastening studi,I and a section on said stud-'engaging plate adapted tobei engaged. by' the lateral of a stud so as to cause said studeengaging plate to be stressed laterally toward .theibaseplate when a stud member is rotated. in a. given direction to thereby ciampi said Work surfaces together.

20. In' a. fastener installation of the character describe-d, in combination with an apertured support and a part to be attached thereto which is provided With ai rotatably mounted stud; a studengaging.; part formed with an apertured studengaging portion, and attaching means having longitudinally disposed tongues overlying and loosely engaging said stud-engaging part Whereby the apertured stud-engaging portion thereof may be shifted laterally relative to the aperture of said support.

21. Aiastening device for detachably securing work. surfaces togethery comp fsing a base plate for association with a surface of one work part adapted. to accommodate a fastening stud, a resilient stud-engaging plate superimposing the base plate, means for spacing the stud-engaging plate in. spaced relation tothe base plate, said base and stud-engaging plates being adapted for telescopic association. with said fastening stud, said stud-engaging plate being relatively rotatable withv respect to a companion stud and having. a stud-engagingsurface for causing the studengaging plate to be stressed laterally' toward the base plate When a stud and stud-engaging plate are relatively rot'a'ed in a given direction to thereby clamp said Work surfaces together.

22. A fastener for use in combination with an apertured support and` a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud; said fastener comprising a stud-engaging part formed with an apertured stud-engaging portion, and attaching means for association with a support and provided with. longitudinally disposed means Wh'olly confined between the marginal sides of and loosely engaging said studengaging part whereby the apertured stud-engaging portion thereof may b'e shifted laterally relative to the aperture of the support.

23. A fastener for use in combination with an apertured support and av part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud; said lfastener comprisingv a stud-engaging socket member formed with a base and an apertured stud-engaging portion, and an elongated attaching' member for association with a support and presenting longitudinally extending opposed guides parallel with the longitudinal axis of the attaching member loosely embracing portions ofv thev socket'member whereby the apertured. stud-engaging portion of the socket member may be shifted laterally relative to the aperture of the support.`

24. A fastener for use in combination with an apertured support and a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud; saidfastener comprising a studengaging socket member formed with a base and an lapertured stud-engaging portion, and an attaching member comprising an apertured plate for association with the support and presenting opposed guides loosely embracing portions' of the 'socket member wherebyv the apertured. studfengaging portion of the socket' member may be shifted laterally relative' tothe aperture of the support, saidfs-tud-engaging vsocket member having end opening recesses forl receiving said guides.

25.--A fastener unitffor use-in securing together an apertured support and a part to be attached thereto, which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud, said unit including a stud-engaging part and attaching means for association with the support adjacent the aperture thereof to secure said unit to' said support, said mea-ns including base elements adapted to bear upon one surface of said support andcooperating, attaching elements adapted t'oextend through said aperture to engage an opposite surface of said support.

26. A fastener unit for use in securing together an apertured support'` and a part vto be attached thereto which is* provided. with a rotatably mounted stud, said unit including a stud-engaging part and attaching means for association with the support adjacent the aperture thereof to secure said unitl to said support, saidy means including. base elements adapted to bear upon one surface of said' support and cooperating yieldable elements disposed in planes spaced from said base elements, said yieldable elementsbeing of hook-shaped form and adapted to extend through saidA aperture to engage frictionally an. opposite surface ofs-ai-d' support from said base elements.

27. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured supportV andv a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatably mounted stud, said fastener comprising an apertured stud-engaging part having end opening recesses, and attaching means adapted to be mounted on a support adjacent the aperture thereof and provided With means extending intov said recesses and loosely embracing the stud-engaging part wherebyl the stud-engaging part may be shifted relative to the attaching means.

28. A fastener forI use in securing together an apertured support andv a part to be 'attached thereto which is provided with arotatably mounted stud, said fastener comprising an apertured stud-engaging part having openings accessible from opposite ends thereof, and attaching means adapted to be mounted on a support adjacent the aperture thereof and provided with means extending into saidl openings and loosely embracing the stud-engaging part whereby the studengaging part may be shifted relative to the attaching means.

29. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured supportv and a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatable stud, said fastener comprising a stud-engaging part provided with a stud-receiving aperture, and'. an elongated attaching member adapted to be secured to a support and having a fastener-supporting base portion of greater length than the Width of said stud-engaging part, and hookshaped retainer means extending from the end portions of the attaching member beyond said stud-engaging partfor shiftably retaining saidv parts together.

30. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured support and' a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatable stud, said fastener comprising a studengagng part provided with a. stud-receiving aperture, an elongated. attaching member having apertured end portions for attachment to a support, and cooperating tongue and recess means for shiftably retaining said stud-engaging part on said attaching member, one of said means being disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis through the apertured end portions of the attaching member.

31. A fastener for use in securing together an apertured support and a part to be attached thereto which is provided with a rotatable stud, said fastener comprising a stud-engaging part provided with a stud-receiving aperture. an elongated attaching member having apertured end portions for attachment to a support, and cooperating tongue and recess means for shiftable WALTER I. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powell Apr. 28, 1942 Number 

